Folding chair



June 5, 1928.

1,672,810 A. S. HUGHES ET AL FOLDING CHAIR Fflled Jan. 26, 1928 l a-J- INVENTORS n/ ATTORNEYS Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,672,810 PATENT OFFlCE.

ARTHUR S. HUGHES AND ELIIER HEDEEN, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE HUGHES-KEENAN COMPANY, OI MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application'flled January 28, 1928. Serial No. 249,687.

This invention relates to folding chairs and aims among other objects to provide an improved durable chair of this type, which may be made of standard metal s apes and 6 stampings.

In the drawin Fi 1 is a si e elevation of a chair embodylng the invention- Fig. 2 is a front elevation, showing the chair in closed position;

Fi 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentar sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of ig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown a chair including front legs 10, constituting a part of a main frame to which a'pair of rear legs 11 is ivoted, a seat 12 being pivoted to'the rear e s and a back rest 13 extending across t e main frame. 4 Y

The main frame providing the front legs 10 is shown as being formed by bending a suitable length of structural channel into inverted U shape with the flanges of the channel projecting inwardly and the curved connectmg portion 14 forming the top of the back rest. The legs 10 are adapted to be braced and held in proper spaced relation by a cross bar 15 secured to the lower ends.

This bar is preferably made of strap metal so that it W111 prevent the ends of the legs from scarring a floor or from sinking in the ground when the chair is used. A second cross bar 16 may also be connected across the.

legs between the ends and the seat to make them more. rigid. Approximately midway of the'hei ht of the main frame is shown a combine cross brace and seat supporting bar 17. All of the bars are convenientlymade of the same width strap metal or the like having the ends bent at right angles to embrace the outside of the frame so that they may be connected thereto by bolts passing through said bent ortions and the web of the frame-and hel inplace by nuts 18 concealed on the inside of the channel. The lowermost ar 15 preferabl extends under the ends 0 the legs while t e other bars may extend across the front of the frame as clearly shown in the drawing.

formed by stamping a single sheet of meta The rear legs 11 are herein shown as being formed of a suitable length of stra metal or the like bent substantially shaped and adapted to fit within the main frame, the connectin portion 19 being straight to provide a large bearing surface as does the bar 15. The legs 11 are pivotally connected at their upper ends as at 20 to the main frame above the bar 17, and. are somewhat shorter than the front le so they may fold therein against the rear g aces of the cross bars or braces. J

The seat 12, in the resent instance, is shown as being U-shape and is preferabl to provide a depending marginal flange 21, the edge of the side and front portions of which are bent inwardly and upwardly forming a reinforced edge 22. Moreover, this avoids the possibility of any exposed sharp edges which might tear clothing. The seat is shown as being pivoted at its rear to the legs 11 on a rod 23 passing through the legs and the seat'flange. When the chair is to be used the reinforced ed of the flange rests on the cross bar 17, the front ofthe seat being slightly elevated above the rear. Also the depth of the seat is such that it does not project forwardly of the lower ends of the front legs 10, to insure that the chair will not tilt forward when weight is applied to the front edge of the seat.

To retain the front and rear legs in their proper positions, braces 24 herein shown as eing made of strap metal are pivoted at one end to the ,seat ivot rod 23 outside of the legs 11, and then other ends are bent outwardly at right angles to form sto lugs 25 adapted to slide in the channel 0 the legs 10 below the bar 17 These braces are bent slightly so that'the lugs are kept in the channels by spring pressure. As the legs are opened, the lugs 25 will slide upwardly in the channels until they engage the nuts 18 associated with the seat su porting bar 100 17 which will revent furt er upward movement of the ugs, and as the lugs cannot leave the channel, the legs cannot be opened further. Hence, the nuts serve a dual purpose. 105

The back rest 18, in the present example, is formed of a strip of sheet metal, the ends bein cut and bent to provide flanges 26 wliic conform'to the curvature of and are inserted into the channels above the straight portions of the main frame. The flanges are preferably secured to the inside of the Web by spot-welding or the like. The back rest is shown as being arcuate or curved in horizontal cross section, and inclined vertically so that the lowermost portion projects rearwardly of the main frame. The curvature and inclination are such as to form, in conjunction with the arcuate portion 14 of the main frame, a comfortable support for the back of the user without presenting edges which would be uncomfortable to the user.

When the chair is to be closed, the seat is raised and the front and rear legs brought together, when the lugs will slide downwardly in the channels. The seat and rear legs being. of less width than the frame,

the whole device will fold into a compact unit, with only a part of the back rest projecting from the rear, the curved portion thereof forming a pocket to receive the end of the seat.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the whole chair may be made of metal parts which can be purchased at small cost; that all of the elements may be made by cutting, stamping, bending and punching operations on suitable machine dies; and that the number of special pivots is reduced to a minimum. Further, the chair is very durable and can be sold at a low price.

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is 1. A folding chair comprising, in combi' nation, a substantially U-shaped main frame formed of a channel member, the flanges of said channel projecting inwardly; said frame presenting the front legs of-the chair; rear legs pivoted at their upper ends to the inside of the main frame; 'a folding seat pivoted between the folding legs; a transverse bar connected to the legs of the frame to support the seat; a pair of braces pivoted at one end to the seat pivot and presenting portions slidably enga eable in the main frame channel at the ot er end; and stop means in the channel to limit the upward movement of the braces and to pre-. vent collapsing of the chair. I

2. A folding chair comprising, in combination, a frame having a pair of spaced front legs; a transverse bar secured to the lower ends of the legs and extending be neath the same; a pair of folding legs pivoted at their upper ends to the frame on the inside thereof; said folding legs having a transverse fconnecting bar at their lower ends; a metal seat having a depending marginal flange; a pivot rod extending through the folding legs and the side flanges of the seat near the rear end thereof; a seat supporting bar extending across the legs of the frame to provide an abutment for the side flanges of the seat; means for securing the seat supporting bar to the frame; and a pair of brace members pivoted at one end to the seat pivot rod and slidably engageable with the legs of the frame; said securing means for the seat supporting bar forming legs on the seat pivot and slideable in the channel of the frame at the other end; said securing means forming abutments to limit the upward movement of the braces; and an arcuate back rest secured in the channel of the frame.

4. A folding chair comprising, in combination, a substantially U-shaped main frame having a pair of spaced legs; said frame being formed of a metal channel, the flanges of the channel being directed inwardly; folding legs pivoted at their upper ends to the main frame; a folding seat pivoted between the folding legs; a seat supporting bar extending transversely of the main frame; means to secure the bar to the frame; and a pair of braces pivoted at one end to the folding legs and slidable in the channel of the mainframe; said securing means for the bar coacting with the braces to limit the sliding movement thereof, whereby the legs are held in proper spaced relation.

5. In a chair of the class-described, the combination of a frame formed of a metal channel and having spaced legs; folding legs pivoted at their up r ends within the main frame; a folding s eet metal seat pivoted at its rear end between the folding legs; brace members pivotally. connected to the folding legs and coacting with the channels of the frame to limit the movement of the folding legs; a seat supporting bar on the frame; securing means for the bar, said means coacting with the braces to limit their movement in one direction; and an arcuate sheet metal back rest extending between and securedin the channels of the frame near the upper end thereof, said back rest being shaped to fit'the back of a user and to permit the seat to be folded upwardly inside of the frame.

6. Inga chair of the class described, the combination of a frame formed of a metal channel and presenting front legs; rear legs pivoted to the frame; a seat pivoted to the rear legs; stop means for the seat on the frame; and means to limit the movement of the rear legs, said means including braces pivoted at one end to the rear legs and having lugs on the other end slidably engage able in the channel, the braces being bent outwardly to retain the lugs in the channel and stops for the lugs in the channel.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto afiixed our signaturesl ARTHUR S. HUGHES. ELMER HEDEEN. 

